In December Marrakech averages a 20.2 °C high and a 7.4 °C low, with seven hours of sun a day and 30 mm of rain over six days. It is a mild month by day and frankly cold at night. The Atlas is snow-covered and visible from the city, visitor numbers are low until 23 December, then very high through to 2 January.
December in figures
| Measure | Value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Average high | 20.2 °C | Comfortable for walking all day |
| Average low | 7.4 °C | A proper jacket is needed |
| Coldest nights | around 3.5 °C | Series low: -1.5 °C in 1999 |
| Mildest days | around 25.5 °C | Record: 31 °C in 2010 |
| Rain | 30 mm over 6 days | As showers, mostly late in the day |
| Sun | 7 h per day | 71 % of daylight hours |
| Daylight | 10 h 05 | Dark from around 5.30 pm |
| Humidity | 64 % | The highest of the year |
Climate normals for 1991-2020 at the Marrakech station, published by Climates to Travel. These are thirty-year averages: any single year can depart from them noticeably. Properties at the foot of the Atlas sit two to three hundred metres higher and are routinely two to four degrees cooler at night.
The first half of December is one of the best-value stretches of the year: mild conditions, empty sites and low rates. It books far later than New Year's week.
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What December actually changes
Days are short, so the plan must be too
Ten hours of daylight, against fourteen in June. Dark falls around 5.30 pm, and the medina changes character as soon as the shops close. That is no problem if you tighten the plan: two sites in the morning, a long lunch, one site in the afternoon. Trying to string five visits together the way you would in April does not work.
Thirteen degrees between day and night
You will be warm at 2 pm in a shirt and cold at 7 pm on a terrace. Dressing in layers is not a precaution, it is the only way to get through the day comfortably. Many riads have no central heating but supplementary heaters: check this before booking, because it is the single biggest source of disappointment in December.
The pool leaves the programme
With nights at 7 °C an unheated pool is unusable. If swimming matters, ask the property directly about heating. Failing that, a hammam replaces a pool very well in December: the hammam and spa guide explains how to build a spa half-day and what it costs.
December's real asset: the mountains
This is the best time of year to see the Atlas. The air is clear, the peaks are snow-covered, and the range is visible from the city and especially from the high ground to the south. A day in the Ourika Valley remains perfectly possible, with two caveats: it can freeze at altitude, and a shower makes tracks slippery. Leave early, bring closed shoes, and give up on walking if the forecast is poor. The Ourika Valley day trip guide gives distances and journey times.
The festive season: one month in two halves
December splits cleanly.
- 1 to 22 December: one of the quietest stretches of the year. Uncrowded sites, tables available, rates among the lowest.
- 23 December to 2 January: the tightest high season alongside Easter. Good addresses are taken six months out, gala dinners are often compulsory and charged, and minimum-night stays are common.
If you want calm and value, aim for the first half. If you are coming for New Year, book very early and ask in writing what the compulsory dinner includes. Our exclusive offers set out the terms that apply over this period.
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What to pack
- A warm jacket, genuinely warm, for the evenings.
- Layers: t-shirt, thin jumper, jacket, rather than one heavy coat.
- Closed, non-slip shoes for the medina in wet weather.
- A light waterproof rather than an umbrella, useless in narrow alleys.
- Sunglasses and sunscreen: seven hours of sun a day, and the UV stays strong.
- Swimwear only if you have confirmed the pool is heated.
Where to stay in December
The deciding factor in December is not the pool, it is indoor warmth and morning sun. A well-oriented house with comfortable salons and effective heating beats a large garden you cannot use. Bab Akoul Medina has the walking advantage: everything is on foot, which counts when days are short. Bab Akoul Atlas offers the finest views of the season, with nights cooler than in the city. Bab Akoul Palmeraie still suits anyone wanting quiet and space. The guide to Marrakech's areas compares them point by point, and the month-by-month weather guide places December in the year.
See Bab Akoul Palmeraie See Bab Akoul Atlas See Bab Akoul Medina
Marrakech in December: frequently asked questions
Is Marrakech cold in December?
By day, no: a 20.2 °C average high is comfortable. At night, yes: 7.4 °C on average, with the coldest nights around 3.5 °C and a series low of -1.5 °C over 1991-2020. The day-to-night gap reaches thirteen degrees.
Does it rain in Marrakech in December?
A little: 30 mm spread over six days, as short showers rather than grey days. The sun still shines seven hours a day, 71 % of available daylight.
Can you swim in Marrakech in December?
Not in an unheated pool: the water stays cold with nights at 7 °C. If swimming is important to you, confirm explicitly with the property that the pool is heated.
Does it snow in Marrakech in December?
Not in the city, which sits at 460 metres. But the Atlas peaks, rising to 4,167 metres, are snow-covered and visible from Marrakech and from south-facing terraces.
Is December a good time to visit Marrakech?
Yes for the first half: few visitors, low rates, mild days and snow-capped mountains. The 23 December to 2 January window is by contrast the most expensive and most crowded of the year.
What should I wear in Marrakech in December?
Layers, with a warm jacket for the evening. Add closed shoes, a light waterproof and sunglasses: it is mild and sunny at 2 pm and cold at 7 pm.
